Martin Laird boosted hopes of securing an invitation into next month’s Masters with a rousing four under par 68 on the opening day of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The Scot capped his round early on with three birdies in succession from his second hole and on the Bay Hill course where he claimed victory four years ago.
It left Laird just two shots behind little known American Morgan Hoffman who posted a six under par 66 and contesting the $US 6.3m event with the sorrow of the passing of his 97-year old grandmother.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy holed a long birdie putt at the last in the round of a two under par 70 but stopped short of slamming the Bay Hill greens despite needing 34 putts and in his last event prior to the Masters.
Martin Laird feels right at Bay Hill and where he won three years. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
McIlroy hit all but one of 18 greens in regulation, and missing only the 16th green when he found the water guarding the putting surface.
“I am feeling okay as I saw a lot of positive signs out there today,” said McIlroy.
“But then the greens …. it’s sort of hard to trust yourself at times as the greens aren’t as good as they can be.
“So if it had of been a better putting day I could have shot something a lot lower but then I feel good about my game and there is a lot of positive signs out there and it’s what I have been working on in practice for the last week or so.
“This is my last event before the Masters so it is important I play well this week and I want to feel that feeling of being in contention especially when I start going into Augusta as the win in Dubai feels like a long time ago.
“So it will be nice to get myself in the hunt going into the weekend.”
And after having been in the company of Jack Nicklaus, and golf’s greatest-ever golfer, the 25-year old McIlroy will sit down in the company of the 85-year old Palmer later tonight (Thursday).
“I have been excited about having dinner with Arnold for some time as I haven’t had the chance to spend much time with Arnold at all given I have not played here before,” said McIlroy.
“So to have dinner with him tonight will be a great thrill.”
Twice in his career Laird has won a Masters invitation just weeks before the season’s traditional first Major including capturing the 2011 Arnold Palmer hosted event and also two years ago in landing the Valero Texas Open and in the week before Augusta.
“I’ve always liked this golf course and long before I won here in 2011,” said Laird.
“It’s a golf course where I feel very comfortable and where I have played well on.
“So despite feeling a little uncomfortable in the heat out there today I feel very much at home.
“My game is very solid at present and I seem to be up there or thereabouts the last few weeks and that’s been a while since I’ve been able to say that.
“So I’ve got off to a good start this week and hopefully I can now build on this start.”
Unfortunately fellow Scot Russell Know struggled under the weight of four bogeys in a two over par 74.
